DES MOINES — A bipartisan group of Iowa senators decided against banning traffic enforcement cameras Wednesday night, but instead agreed to subject them to stricter regulation in hopes of curbing concerns associated with the 79 cameras operating statewide.

Sixteen Democrats joined 11 Republicans in supporting an amendment offered by Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, to replace a proposed ban and keep in place systems meant to promote safety. There were 17 majority Republicans, four Democrats and one independent who opposed the effort to regulate rather than eliminate the traffic enforcement devices in nine Iowa communities.

“I am very disappointed, but that does happen,” said Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, who spearheaded the effort to take down “gotcha” cameras that he called “vindictive,” unconstitutional infringements on Iowans’ due process rights and money-making enterprises for foreign-based companies that take 46 percent of the revenue from speeding and red-light violations.

Read the full article on the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier website.